MINNEAPOLIS — It took all of one game for the Warriors and Timberwolves to raise concerns over the officiating of their second-round playoff series.
Wolves coach Chris Finch took exception to the way the Warriors handled center Rudy Gobert under the boards in Golden State’s 99-88 victory.
The veteran center grabbed 11 rebounds while dealing with what Finch deemed was excessive contact. The coach expressed his frustrations with the officiating at Wednesday’s media availability.
“On defensive rebounds, they do a lot of fouling, holding, shoving, pushing and tackling Rudy,” Finch told reporters. “That’s clear. We’ll send a bunch of those clips into the league.”
Warriors coach Steve Kerr fired back, noting that Steph Curry – now out with a hamstring injury – was held at least six times in the first few minutes of the game on uncalled fouls.
“I was upset with the first 10 minutes of the game,” Kerr said. “It was just like Houston all over again.”
Kerr said that both teams will “have to adjust” to the bruising nature of the series, adding that referees have a difficult job, and that they cannot call every foul.
“Can you call every single one of them? No,” Kerr said. “But can you set the tone early and try to clean it up? Yes.”
The Warriors had 18 fouls called on them in Game 1, while the Timberwolves were whistled for 21 infractions.
He believed neither team was gaining an advantage when it came to fouls.
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“I’m getting ready to send my own clips into the league …. But it has been consistent. They’re consistently allowing teams to foul,” Kerr said.
Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski, one player singled out by Finch for grabbing Gobert, declared that the team had learned a trick or two from the handsy Rockets, who used grabbing and holding to slow down the Warriors’ scorers.
“I mean, it’s the playoffs,” Podziemski said. “You’re trying to do anything you can to win. I mean, Rudy is probably a whole foot taller than me, so what do you want me to do?”
Game 2 will be played on Thursday at Target Center.
